Apparatus for preparing food.



J. D. BELTON.

APPARATUS FOR PREPARING FOOD.

APPLxcATloN FILED 1uLY13,191e.

LQQ., Patented June 5, 1917.

rA/l

Hop

iop

y JMA @www ATTORN EY iinrrnn srarns .arnn'r orricn JOHN I). BIELTON, OF CROWLEY, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO ALECK BROWN,

- OF MORSE, LOUISIANA.

APPARATUS FOR IPREPARING FOOD.

ieeaeio.

To all whom t may .concern Be it known that I, JOHN D. BEL'roX, a

citizen of the United States. residing at Crowley, in the parish of Acadia and State of Louisiana` have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Preparing Food, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to methods or processes of mixing food, and is particularly directed to the preparation of stock feed. y

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simplied and improved'means fon properly macerating the food ingredients and thoroughly drying the same'before' being mixed with the molasses or other Huid and being packed and distributed for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for thoroughly mixing the food ingredients with molasses, and for removing the heat from the mass during the mixing operation.

A still further and particular object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for carrying the process into effect, which is of simple and inexpensive construction, which may be maintained at comparativelylow expense, which is composed ofbut few simple and readily assembled parts, all so constructed and arranged as to precludethe possibility of wear, breakage or derangement of the same, and which will thoroughly perform the functions for which it is designed.

lith these objects view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the .drawnings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings The figure represents a sectional view, parts in elevation of a mechanism for carrying the improved process into effect.

The product ofthe method and mechanism to be hereafter detailed, consists of sugar or molassesy coated cereals, such as cracked or crushed corn, Kath' corn, milo maize, etc.

The'method consists generally in thoroughly breaking, or crushing the food ingredients, removin all moisture therefrom,

and at the same time heating the ingredients,.-

then thoroughly mixing the hot molasses or Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led J' uly 13, 1916.

Patented d une 5, 1917.

serial No. 109,148.

sugar withthe food ingredients and thoroughly mixing the mass. During the mixing process, the heat is extracted from the mass, so that the product is free of heat and moisture when in a state to be packed or shipped.- This method is carried into effect by the use of the following mechanism:

A plurality of crushing rollers 5 are arranged within a suitable hopper 6, by means of which the food ingredients introduced to crushed food ingredients passes forwardly' of the device, and during this movement, the intense heat from the rollers toasts or removes the moisture from the ingredients. The forward end of the conveyer 10 communicates with a chamber 11 Within which is arranged a spiral mixing conveyer 12, the latter being driven by a belt or chain indicated at 13. A nozzle 14 communicates with the chamber 11 at the forward end thereof, through which molasses, sugar or the like is introduced to the said chamber as the heated food ingredients are delivered to the spiral mixer. The molasses may be fed from a suitable tank or reservoir 15 and a; valve 16 may be arranged in the pipe to control the flow of molasses.

v As the food ingredients enter the mixing chamber, the molasses or sugar is also admitted and the conveyer 12 thoroughly intermingles the food ingredients with the m0- lasses or sugar during the advanclng movement of the mass. The rearward end of the chamber 12 communicates atits lower end with an aspirator 17, the lattercompri'sing a chamber within which is mounted a screw orspiral drum 18 for advancing the mass' This drum may be with a discharge opening 20, through which the mass is delivered to a suitable recep` tacle indicated at 21. f

The fan or blower 22 is associated with an aspirator to create in the latter acurrent of air to cool the mass being driven forward by the drum 18. This fan may be driven by a .suitable -belt 23 trained over the spiral conveyer shaft. If desired, .the drum 18 may be of foraminous formation,V whereby a free circulation of air throughr the aspirator may be' produced. -It is apparent that when the thoroughly mixed food ingredientsand molasses or Vsugar is discharged into the f aspirator, the drum 18 willr advance and vfurther mix the rmass', and at the same time, the air currentswithin the aspirator chamber will remove excessive heat from the mixer. When the mass has been advanced to the forward end of the' aspirator "chamber, it will be discharged through an opening' 20 into the receptacle 21, whereupon it may be packed in ysuitable receptacles for shipment. By thus treating the food ingredients in their mixture or preparation, the vmoisture is rempved from the food so that the cartons or packages containing the food will lnot becomediscolored and unsightly.

It is apparent arrangement that the food ingredients are treated in such manner as to produce a highly nutritious food, asenone of the steps in the process prove detrimental to the nourishing qualities of the ingredients. It is further to be' observed that the method may, by means of the above described mechfrom the above described anism, be carriedainto e'ect and maintainedat comparatively little expense.

W'hile the above isa description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that various changes inthe minor details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is 1. 1n a device of the class described, a heating and mixing chamber, `the former communicating .with the latter, heated rollers in said heating chamber, a belt conveyer on said rollers, a spiral conveyer in said mixing chamber, an aspirator chamber com-gl municating with said mixing chamber, a splral drum 1n`sa1d asplratorwmeans for rotating said conveyer and drum, and means 1 for creating air currents in said aspirator,

substantiallyas described.

2. In a device ofrthe class descrlbedha mixing chamber, a screw vconveyer in said chamber, a molasses introducing nozzle in 

